Prior to Western Carolina: Was a three-year varsity letter winner, progressing up the depth chart from his junior varsity days before getting a chance on the varsity as a sophomore due to a team injury ... Named All-Central Piedmont 4-A Conference as a senior team captain ... Recorded 138 total tackles including 75 solo stops with 18 tackles for loss including four sacks in his final season of high school ... Forced a pair of fumbles ... Also played baseball as a prep ... Made the Academic Honor Roll all four years and was awarded the 2017 Corrigan / Faircloth Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholarship.